Liquid dispensing apparatus



Oct. 7, 1947. c. F. PRANGLEY 2,428,382

I LIQUID DISPENSING 'PPARATUS Filed oct. 11, 1945 2 sheets-sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

Oct. 7, 1947. v c. F. PRANGLEY l2,428,382

LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed 00T.. 11, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 III'" l IN V EN TOR.

Patented Oct. 7, 1947 UNITED STATES "-QFFI'CE i 2,428,382V Y Y 'LIQUID .msPENsING APPARATUS' v Our-tis F. Prangley,Evanston,I-ll. l .Application october-11, 1943,serial'nafsonvssj g 8 Glaims.

This invention-relates to dispensing devices, and more -particularly to devices for dispensing fuels for internal combustion engines and the like.

Among the objects ofthepresent inventiony are toprovide aliquid dispensing apparatus including electricalintegratingor computing means for indicating-'the volume andcost of theliquid dispensedto provideadispensing device of the computing pump type whichissimple in cost of constructionand assembly,. icient in operation, and which may be `easily adjusted to effect any necessary price chang-e; 4mor-eparticularlyitis anobjectgof the-invention :to-provide electrically .operable computing means automatically synchronized Wi-th then lloW-of yliquidv being dispensed; to i provide electrically operable computer mechanism in a-gasoline .dispensing system which. shall be accurate-'and unaffected-by variations involtage\andfrequency of Vthe-supply sou-.romand to provide electrically -operable Acomputer mechanism inra gasoline-dispensing device lin which the opera-tion ofthe yvolume and Vcost registers shall be related tothe rate of flow of the liquid-being 'dispensed and the operation ofthe regi-sters'shall 'be' control-led"bythe-rate-.of flow of then-uid; Ato .provide a Y, gasoline A--pump of the computer ity-pe "wherein 'electrical means yis provided land such means may beoperated Without-mechanical -connection-fwhatsoever-to-fthe liquid forcing andy regulating 4elements and -which rmay be located vin any desired: positionlfor' relation; either remote or 4"adjacent:said#elementi for instance, the Aelectrically operated f'volume 'and v.cost registering mechanism `may 'be :placed "remotely from `the pump itself and operatedasi'eiciently as-ifl they 7Were .placed ydirectly; on 'the' same lstructure "with fthe pum'pz itselisrand inniddition a' number iof such registering mechanisms Velectrically operated and lremotely ..place'd .from 'the pump litself "can "be iutilized.' f

"A 'more specificobject of lthe invention lis 'to provide electrically *operable *voltage fand ifrequency 'compensating motors 'or timersjthe operation 'of rvvhich 'iscontrolled i in Aaccordance -With the `rate of -iiowof ffiiuid in -the-.cispensing une and Whichinturn"operate"volumeand cost registers indicating'thevolume'and cost ofthe fluid dispensed; to providethese .andother objects of invention.' as will heapparent from the'following'- (Cl. Z22-26') lis shownthe usualgtype of gasoline reservoir; prei- 'erably f anv underground `tank 2, and Yalli'quiddis- -pensing tline "leading therefrom comprising :the pipei-ll which 'has' at its lower end the usual 'type v'Figure 2" isa-section taken on-theflineliZ-Z'of Figure-1. 1 -Figure isa section taken on thellinef-3-a3 of *Figure 2.

V`Ffigureafi isla section taken on the"line''4-4"of Figure 1l `Figure s Figure4.

Figure: 6 is afschematic diagram ofthe electric circuits of vthe induction l meter motors .rand-their connections to the 'distance transmitters.

Figure 'lis a diagrammatic representation of-a modied form of control 'fori the 'distance-transmitter, j f

' Referring i nowto thef drawings indetai-L-there of foot 'valvej There Tis alsoshown an-upright Ihousing 6- which''ma'y be of '-anydesiredtypefor containing the pumping mechanism. A flowal-ine vis -shownas' including any type Lof liquid vpump driven-from the electr-ic motor l 0 loyv appropriate -gearin-gfv Thisl-pumpdischarges into-the usual type of1v air eliminating "dev-ice `|2 dis-posedlin the casing E from `whichv thedispensing line `passes 'floyA means ofthe pipe lid toa ow meter orother "means :responsive ltothe Arate of flow Vof fluid tijfhrough the dispensing line, I-andthence by-means of a Vdispensing Vline pipe i i8' t0 the/usual i-typevo'f sight glass 20 which discharges-into va -exible lhose'22 providedwith a terminal nozzle-24 having the usual typemofV vmanuallyactuated control valve 26 'fori controlling the dispensing through "the flow line-When the Vpump *B'is dischargingiliq- AuidA through ythe dispensing line. Pump visjpro- `vided'-preferably- With theusual'type of bypass mechanism, Well known'in the art. Thenoznle 24'is located uponthe usual typev of nozzle hook V311, the Yoperation of -vvhch is transmitted by meansof rod -32to'a switch lever -3'8 `for starting Land' stopping Athe motor as is HWell known-inthe art.

The flow meter i6 is variably operatedinresponsert() the rat' ofrnow of the lliquid nowing through the dispensing line. provided with a shaft '36 which extends into "a' "usual volume register indicated dia-'grammatically at "Sil andhavingfthe Volume indicating `dials-or from, the shaft as,

3 wheels 52. The induction meter motor 46, through a shaft 54, drives the usual cost register, indicated diagrammatically at 56, and having the usual cost indicating dials 58. The registers 50 and 56 may be of any usual type known Vin the art, and having the conventional resetting mechanism by means of which the dials are returned to their zero positions. A price variator 60 is mounted `in anyv convenient position in the housing 6 and'is electrically connected as by cable 62 to the induction meter motor 46 which drives` the cost register and is mechanically connected through a suitable gear mechanism 64 toitheVA usual unit price indicator 66.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the distance trans mitter 38 into which extends the shaft 36Y ofthe e rate of ow meter I6 may comprise a pair of resisters, rheostats, or potentiometers' and 10 in an insulating, supporting and terminal block 12.

j 'The resistors 68 and 10 are connected at their ends to terminals 14, 16, 18 and 80. The resistor 68 y'is traversed by a brush 82 supported at the outer end of a lever 84 securedfto, but insulated The lever 84 carries a spring pressed contact pin'86 engaging a slip ring 88 Vmounted in an insulating bracket 90 secured to the Wall of the explosion-proef housing 82 of the distance transmitter.

2, is connected to the terminal 86 mounted with :the terminals 14, 16,' 18 and 80 onV the combined supporting and terminal. blocks-10 and 12. resistor 10 is traversed by a brush 98 carried at Ithe outer endof a lever |00 secured to but inv .sulatedrom the shaft 36. The lever r|00 carries aspringjpressed contact pin |02V engaging a slip i ring |04 vmounted also on the bracket 90 and ure2, to theterminal- |08 of the set carried by the -block 12; Y It Will'be evident, of course, thatl Vthe ,angular positionsrof the brushes 82 and 98 will be determined by the degree of angular rotation Y e of theshaft36, Which in turn `willbe determined bymthe Yrate, o f ow measured by the meterY I6. .Hencethe ratio of resistance between the ter- Initials 74' and 'I6 andthe terminal 96 Will be determined by the rate of ow of iluidthrough Athe dispensing line and the ratio of resistance between the terminals 18 and 80 and |08 will also be determined by the rate of flow of uid through the dispensing line., y

shaft |28' which extends into the gear box 64 that drives `the priceper unit indicator 66. The

wiper arm ||8 is secured to, but-insulated from,

` Y the shaft vI2 0V and its annular hub portion engages asprin'gfpressed contact pin |37!) mounted in a The slip ring 88is providyed with a terminal 94 which, as shown in Figure .Y

The

' balncing Calibrating resistors |64 and |66 to ter- Vhaving a terminal |06 connected, as shown in Figf motor 44 and by the induction meter motor 46.

As shown in Figure 6, the induction meter motor 44 comprises the usual conductive disc |36, preferably of aluminum, secured to a Spindle three-Wire cable 42 to the |38 journalled in suitable end bearings |40 and provided with a Worm or'other gear |42 mesh# ing with a Worm Wheel or other gear |44Von a suitably mounted shaft |46 carrying -a second 'gear- |48 meshing with a gear |50 .on the bottom of shaft 48 by means of which the cost register. 150 is driven. The disc |36 is driven by magnets |52 and .|54 and braked by magnet |56. The magnet|52 is provided with differentially acting coils |58 and |60 connected atV their inner ends as at |62 and connected at their free ends through minalsY |68 Aand |18V connected by VWires |12 and |14-Which form two Wires of the three-Wirel cable `4l), to the distance transmitter, specically v,the terminals 14 and/160i said rdistance.KV

transmitter.' VThe supply 1ines`g|16 and |18 which are connected to theV alternating current line, i. e. the same supply linewhich is connected to the motor .I 0, or tothersupplyzline through a suit-V abletransformer,not'sshown; The wire |16 lead-` ingY fromthe supply line is connected to Va. ter-Y minal |80 which in turn. isconnected by wire |82 to terminal |84, the terminal |84 being connected by the thirdwirefl o'frthefcable 40 to the terminal 96 ofthe distance transmitter, The,Y

common terminal |62 of therdifferentially acting vcoils |58and |6001? the electro-'magnet |52 is con-Y nectelbyvvireI |88to a resistor |90 Yacross which the coil |92' of @the Velectro-#magnet '|54 igv connected; The co'il |92 constitutesthe potential` vcoil for the induction metermotor'while the'differentially acting coils |548l and acting together constitute the series or current coil for .Y

theinduction metermotor." Af'wr'e |94extends Vfrom the other side of the 'resistorfl90 to the coil Y|66oi` the` braking electro-magnet |56, the otherV side of this coilj|96 being'connected by wire |98V ,tothe terminal Y2| l0' towhieh the otheriwire |18 leading" from `the-supply line is connected.; VIt Vvcan-bel mathematically proven that the speed of the disc |36 by properproportioning of the' several coils lof-theinduction Ameter motor'and by `proper calibrationv through thebalancing resistance, will remain dependent solely uponthe ratio l terminal block |32, the contact pin |30 being coni l vnected to the terminal |34, the terminals II4, ||6 and |34 beingmounted in any appropriate mannerin the housing `I I 0'and connected to the ends of. the three-wireA cable 62V which extendsV from thepricevariator 60 to the induction meter motor 46,4 YThe distance transmitter 38 ris coupled by the three-Wire cable 46 to the induGtiOll meter of the resistancebetWeen-'the'terminal 14 Vand the arm 84 to the resistance between the termina1g16 and .the armV 84.-- Hence 'the lspeed of the'disc :|36 'williat everyfinstantlbe proporofliquid-V tioned to the instantaneousfrate. of'ow through the'dispensing line.

Again, by proper proportioning4 ofthe coilsgof the induction meter motor, the .speed of the disc Y Ycan be made independent of changes` in the volt-V age and Yfrequency ofthe.. `supply line; iAs' the voltage or frequency changes, the driving torque Yapplied to the disc by themagnets |52 andy |54 1 varies, but at the Sametimefth'e lbraking force `or torque `exerted by the magnet r|56 varies-ina Y compensating sense,\so that for all practical purposes the speed of the discisY independent of volt-,

age and frequency `and is determined solely bythe position Yofthe lever 8430i the distance trans,-

.mitter.- iz .Y Y, j ,Y Y

The induction vmeter motor`46is generally lar to the induction meterf motor 44Y butthe'speed,

thereof mustalsolnel governed the pricfevariaV tor 60 vin accordance .withgtheprice'per unitvolf urne of liquid dispensedr '-This induction meter motor 46 comprises a conductiverotatable kdisc canadese 'Q5 V202 similar'in'every respect to=l the-discl 35,-simi larl-'ymounted l'and Similarly connected mechaniclly to:` the LAshaft 54 by Which the'lco'stvregi'ster 1risdriven. VAThe ldiscY- 202 is drivenfby-electrmmagan electro-magneti 248. 'Theelectro-magnetflmis *infthis* instance l'provided With-two sets of- -dileren`t-iallyacting coils, one set'compr-ising avco'il "2150 and a coilf2'I2, and the other set` comprising laf-coil 214 and `a -coil"2-I'6,each :set beingv similart-o "the coils IEB-ai-idfl. T-heicoilsfZI #and-flf-are interconnected atv their adj acent-ends as ati 21%, -Whi-le-=attheir opposite ends'ltheyarefconnected lwire 2 2 Il 'arid- Awire 2 2 2l vthrough lcalibratingarid balax'ic'i-ng resistors 2v2-4 and22f6 toi-terminalsf-ZEB and 230. I The termi-1122151228-and23'Il-are connectedf'by the Wires2-32-and *234 of the cable 42 to the distance transmitter, and specifically to terminals 'I8 and 80 of saidtransmitter. The third wire -t236 of the three-wire cable 42 which is connected to the terminal |03 of the distance t-ransmitteris connectedto terminal 238 of. the induction meter motor 46 which terminal is connected by wire 240 in com-mon to the adjacenteends of the coils 21"14 iand 216; 'IfIhe-opposite. ends oiithe coilsl'2I-4'and '42I6 are .connectedby .wires242'rand 244through balancing andicalibrating resistors245 and 248 to terminals D and 252. The terminals 250 and 252 are `connected by Wires 254 and 256 of the threer-wirecable v`I52-fto the price variator- 60, specifically to the opposite terminals I I4 and I I6 of the price variator. The terminal |34 of the `price variator is connected by wire 258 to the terminal 265 of the induction meter motor, which terminal is directly connected by wire 262 to terminal 264 to which a Wire 266 leads from the supply line. A wire 268 leads from the other side of the supply line-the same supply line to which the wires H6 and I'I8 are connected, and preferably also the same line to which the electric motor I6 is connected, although for protection of the induction meter motor it may be desirable to interpose a transformer to the secondary of which the supply lines IIB-256 and IIS-268 are connected in parallel. The potential and braking coils 269 and 2'II are ccnnected in the same manner as the coils |92 and |96 of the motor 44. The induction meter motor 46 operates similarly to the induction meter motor 44 but integrates, in eiect, the rate of ow of the liquid With the adjusted price per unit volume of the liquid dispensed.

As shown in Figure 7, the present type of displacement meter, commonly employed in a liquid dispensing apparatus, may be utilized to control the levers 84 and |60 which carry the brushes that engage the resistors or rheostats 68 and 10, these rheostats forming the distance transmitter and being connected to the induction meter motor in the same manner as disclosed with reference to Figures 1 to 6. In this case the levers 84 and I are secured to a slidable sleeve 210 held against rotation by having a slidable spline connection to a xed yoke 212. The sleeve 210 is raised and lowered in accordance with the speed at which the shaft 214 of the displacement meter 216 is driven, by means of a governor or speed responsive device 218 of known construction, embodying swingable fly balls 28e secured to slidable and rotatable yoke 282 journalled on the sleeve 210 but having an annular key connection thereto to cause the sleeve to move vertically. A calibrated spring 284 regulates the movement of the ily balls in the conventional manner.

The distance transmitter itself controls the starting and stopping of the induction meter moitor, ori inithefzeroilpcsitionin'gthefilevers 84 m0, e.,fltherpositions which .they. i'assumewhen the dispensing system isnot'eperatinggitheresist- Ltanceliincli-idecl Sinlthe circuits?- 'heidifierentially Larran gedecurrenti` coi-lsl :of each ductionzimeter mresu'chiasitoensure stoppage ofttheldrivenlldiscs. `Of`course,as1p viously statedgthe supply .lines 'leading "to th duction meter -motorsfand from "themf to thelfiloistance ftransmitten Tarei connected vto the -supplyicableithrough-switch contacts which fmayebeincorporatedhm 'the-control switch fori-'the "-motorll ffardiW-hic'lr :switch isf operated-pn there; -rrlnewalgarid#replacement ofi-the! nozzle fon the supporting hook 30.

'Qbviously the *invention `.is lnot limitedto `the ispeci'flcffdetails ofeconstructionidisclosed v"lriereiln Lbutlis lcapable pffcther. modincationslandschanges -w thout=frlepartingffrom Athe spiritlxand.scopecof ftheappendedclaims y lI-Iewi-ng itl-ius described myiiiver'itiom i `rlaimaasrilevi andx desiretdseoure byiIl'ettersP-atent-isz Y 151. rI-n va i liquid fdispensing ideviceyin ricombina fltion 'With' a "flow line, means lrespons-ive lto the rate-'ffiloW-vofflud 'fthroughlthe dispensingflin'e, #a vclurne'freglister- 'airidzaicost register; electrically *operable rmote-r fmeans yoperating@said registers nand ccntrolledas'ltof-speed by saidffl'ow responsive means, and price adjustable rmeansliorl 'adjustablyivaryinglthe :speed ofithe 'motor nieansv operating the cost register in accordance with the price per unit of liquid dispensed.

2. In a liquid dispensing device, a dispensing line, a valve in said line for opening and closing said line to the ilow of liquid therethrough, means in said line for forcing liquid therethrough when the valve is open at a variable rate of flow dependent upon the extent of opening of said valve, a volume register, a cost register, voltage and frequency compensated electrical motor means, one for operating each of said registers, and electrical price variator means for adjustably varying the speed of operation of the motor means operating the cost register in accordance with price per unit volume of liquid dispensed.

3. In liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination of a flow line, a volume register, a cost register. means responsive to the rate of flow of Iiuid through said line for driving said volume register, electrically operable motor means for driving said cost register, means responsive to the rate of flow of iluid through said line for controlling the instantaneous speed of driving of said cost register by said electrically Operable means, and price variator means for governing the average rate of driving of said cost register by saidl electrically operable motor means in accorda-nce with the unit cost of said'liquid per unit of measure.

4. A liquid ow apparatus comprising a dispensing line through which liquid flows at var-v iable rates, a meter connected with the flow line and responsive to the liquid flow therethrough, register mechanism, an electric motor for driving the register mechanism, motor energizing power supply means independent of the meter for supplying power to the motor, and means controlled by the meter for controlling the speed of operation of the register driving motor.

5. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a ow line through which liquid flows at variable rates, register mechanism, a rst prime mover for driving said liquid propelling means, a second, independent, prime mover for driving the register mechanism, and means responsive t0 the frate of flow of liquid through the dispensing line yfor controlling the speed of operation of the register driving prime mover. Y i

6. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a flow line, means for controlling the rate of flow L of liquid through said line, means for propelling liquid through the line at variable rates of flow determined ,by said controlling means, means lfor driving the pump, register mechanism, an electric motor independent of said pump driving means for driving the register mechanism,v and means responsive to vthe iiow of liquid through the dispensing line for controlling theV speed of operation of said electric motor.

- j 7.- A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a flow line, means for controlling Ythe'rate ofr flow of liquid through said line, means for propelling liquidfthroughl the line at variable rates offflow determined by said controllingmeans, means for jdriving therpump, cost register mechanism, an

electric motor independent ofV said pump driving means for driving the register mechanism, means Aresponsive-tothe ow of liquid through the line Vfor lcontrolling the speed of operation of said electric motor, and price adjustable means for Vadjusting the .speed controlling relationship' of the flow responsive means and the electric mo- `Vtor in accordance with the price per unit vol- `umeof liquid dispensed. i f

8. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, thecombi- .nation of a flow line, a meter in said line'a me.,-

chanical cost register, aninduction-meter motor Y for driving said cost register, an adjustably, pre1- set electrically operable control means connected toY said motor for regulating the base speedf-of operation of said induction-meter motor in acfr'l cordance with the price per unit volume of liquid dispensed, and a second, electrically operable coni-f' trol means operatively connectedto said motor Y and said rst control means and mechanically connected to said meter for response to the flQw of liquid through said line for varying theinstantaneous speed of operation of said inductionmeter motor about Vsaidbase speed in accord'- ance with variations in the instantaneousrrate of flow of liquid through saidline. if

5 CURTIS F. PRANGLEY.

Y* REFERENCES crrED YThe following references are of record'in vthe Y le of this patent: i 1 s UNITED STATES PATENTS` f 'e Date 

